Tee Morris

Writer, podcaster. and streamer

Horror

Six Things to Know When Searching for an Agent

A new and uncharted path lies ahead for this word-herder…

You might have heard me talk a little about this on The Shared Desk, or you might have bumped into me at an event and asked me “So, what’s next for you?” Well, since you are curious, here’s what I’m currently up to â€” I’m agent hunting.

If this comes as a shock to you, then you really should listen to The Shared Desk.

Yes, I’m looking for an agent. Bylines with the biggest publisher in “How To” books, awards and accolades for a successful steampunk series, and years of being in the business of storytelling does not shield me from starting from Square One all over again. See, my latest idea yielded a book that isn’t Science Fiction. It isn’t Fantasy. It’s not even Horror. My latest completed novel is a thriller.

Albeit, this is a thriller set in the video games and eSports industry, so it’s still very much me. Have no fear in that.

Write what you know.

Since I’m braving undiscovered country, I’m putting together a cover letter and proposal for agents. Again, the confusion probably deepens as many of you know I’m no stranger to the D.I.Y. approach of publishing. Thinking about it, I want this title to find a home with a traditional publishing house (or, as the cool kids call it — trad publishing — which is…cool…I guess…). That means agent hunting; and seeing as how almost twenty years has passed between the last time I did this and now, a lot has changed…

…but some of the basics in seeking representation still stand.

[Read more…] about Six Things to Know When Searching for an Agent

You Wanna See Something Really Scary: A Fresh Horror from Tee Morris

twilightIf you remember back in 2012, Pip and I were engaging in an experiment. We never really mentioned what that experiment was all about, and that was on purpose. We wanted to step deeper into the waters of self-publishing and write outside our genres, see how works way out of our known expertise would perform in the wild frontier of digital do-it-yourself storytelling. I created for myself the pen name of “Jonathan Carter” and set out to write stories that—I hoped—would keep people up a night, make readers afraid of the dark, and check the house to make sure they were truly safe.

I’ve never been one for pen names but after two years and little-to-no activity, I went on and said to Pip “I think we’re done with the experiment. How about we go ahead and just kill Jonathan Carter, and I claim those short stories.”

So, I sat down with Photoshop, edited the eCovers, and re-released them into the wild. Within the first twelve hours of being live, one sold.

I’m thinking the loss of the pen name was a good idea.

How would I categorize my horror? I don’t think of myself as a horror writer heavy on the “squick” factor (if you are curious of what the “squick” factor is, think of the works from Clive Barker or film like the Saw series, or Hostel); but I would say the element of a setting or a situation slowly unraveling, and watching what the players do to try and solve or salvage it but wind up making the bad even worse, makes for good horror. It’s a feeling of helplessness, that wild tailspin of trying to make a situation right while knowing there is nothing that can be done, that I believe horror derives from.

While I have just opened up my own private shop here, you can find my works of horror on Amazon: [Read more…] about You Wanna See Something Really Scary: A Fresh Horror from Tee Morris

Balticon 48: The Return to Hunt Valley and Revenge of #GymCon

Last year, Pip and I were not in attendance at Balticon, the premier weekend of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror. We had been given Featured Guest status at Up in the Æther (now called Steamtopia) so we figured after years (a decade for me!) of attending Balticon, it was time for a change of pace. Detroit was a fantastic town with awesome people, and it was a good weekend all around…

…but yes, it was weird not being in Hunt Valley, Maryland, on Memorial Day Weekend.

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This year, Pip and I are excited to be returning. Unlike other literary events, Balticon offers a track specific to New Media (blogging, podcasting, Facebook, etc.), originally started up by Paul Fischer back in 2005. From that single panel on what a podcast is, the New Media track (which covers production, fan discussions, and live recordings) grew, even earning the nickname “The Other Balticon” which I think is a bit unfair as some of the most talented people — not just the writers, but the creative artists that also speak on the track — I’ve met are all on this track. Over the years, though, Balticon’s amazing staff have integrated the New Media track with other tracks; and this year’s 48th incarnation of the event promises to be a fantastic time!

Here’s where you can find me this weekend… [Read more…] about Balticon 48: The Return to Hunt Valley and Revenge of #GymCon

Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Nick Kelly on Crossing the Line and How Far to Cross It

Today on the blog, I host the kind of writer that is truly metal. No, really—he is metal. He’s a musician. He’s a security expert. He’s a health professional. AND…he’s a writer. If you’re a listener to The Shared Desk, you recognize the name: Nick Kelly. Fellow comic book geek. Fellow movie buff. Fellow cybersecurity believer. As he and I have shared opinions on just how far to go in your writing, I encouraged him to share his thoughts with you on the boundaries and just how far you can push them.

Nick, welcome to my blog. The stage is yours.

IMG_4643“Remember, honey, these aren’t your normal readers. Tone down the gore.”

Words of wisdom from my blushing bride and co-author, Stacia D. Kelly. I don’t remember the first time she told me this, but she’s repeated that comment several times while we were writing Ichi together. Our shared story is an urban fantasy featuring a 1,000 year old samurai demon hunter and a D.C. homicide cop.

When I’m not collaborating with her, I write a series of dystopian cyberpunk featuring a hitman and lots and lots of psychotic robots. I may have a contest among my readers to see who can most accurately report the body count.

That raises the ultimate question – How much is too much? [Read more…] about Endless Possibilities Blog Tour 2014: Nick Kelly on Crossing the Line and How Far to Cross It

Show #042: On Writing Demands and Real Life (with Scott Sigler)

Finally, after all these years, the F.D.O. joins me in the foxhole
for an interview…

About to wrap up his second Stank Tour, New York Times Bestselling Author and Failed Pimp, Scott Sigler, joins me on the Survival Guide to talk about something near and dear to us both: Facing the Challenges of Real Life. While the topic has been touched on once or twice here in Boot Camp, this time I take a look at dealing with the demands of delivery while coping with real life situations; and as many of the Junkies know, Scott had a rough-and-tumble 2008 as well. Here he comes — the Force of Nature that is Sigglerisimo.

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00:00 — Creatures & Crooks promo

01:47 — Introduction

07:20 — On Writing Demands and Real Life (with Scott Sigler)

  • Three years of podcasting novels
  • Scott takes his own advice
  • Scott talks a bit about how Contagious his latest work is!
  • Scott’s epic journey, Nocturnal
  • How Scott and The Sarge are working through Real Life Demands…
    • Pushing out a novel in record time
    • Making the priorities
    • “2008 was one thing after another…” — Scott Sigler
  • How do you continue to produce through the dark times?

28:08 — Promos: In Your Right Mind, The Brain Science Podcast

30:03 — On Writing Demands and Real Life (Part II)

  • Guest Bumper: Kimi Alexandre
  • Details on “Books & Bling” at Creatures & Crooks in Richmond, VA
  • Allowing your work to be your escape and your focus
  • Dealing with aggressive fans and negative reactions
  • The Two Kinds of “Fans”
  • Setting Priorities (Revisited)
  • Connecting with the fans and meeting expectations
  • Keeping up with the deadlines, staff turnovers, publishing politics, and your sanity

54:43 — Wrapping Up